Nadine Dorries formally quits as MP

Nadine Dorries has formally quit as an MP, after handing in her resignation over the weekend.

It means a by-election can now be scheduled for the constituency of Mid Bedfordshire.

The Treasury has confirmed that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has appointed Ms Dorries to be Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern, the archaic mechanism for quitting the commons.

In recent weeks the former culture secretary had come under growing pressure from other MPS and even some within the Conservative party.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have been campaigning for the seat already, with Ms Dorries' resignation allowing for a by-election to be scheduled.

Her formal exit means a motion called a "writ" can be moved when Parliament returns on September 4, giving between 21 and 27 working days for the by-election.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey visited Mid Bedfordshire last week.

"The people of Mid Bedfordshire have been taken for granted for too long," Sir Ed said.

"From not being able to see a GP to having an absent MP, it's clear this part of the world has been completely ignored by the Conservatives.

"People across Bedfordshire should be able to get an appointment with their doctor when they need it - instead we have a Government that just can't get the basics right.

"The Liberal Democrats are the clear challengers in this by-election, every vote for our local champion Emma Holland-Lindsay will be a vote to send a message to the Conservatives that enough is enough."

Labour's candidate Alistair Strathern was also campaigning over the bank holiday weekend.

The former MP pledged initially on June 9 to step down with "immediate effect" in protest at not getting a peerage in Boris Johnson's resignation honours list.

A scathing attack on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was featured in her resignation over the weekend.

The Prime Minister is "grateful" to Nadine Dorries

The Prime Minister has said he is “grateful” to Nadine Dorries for her service to Parliament.

Speaking on a visit to a new-build housing estate near Norwich, Rishi Sunak told broadcasters: “I’m grateful to Nadine for her service both as an MP and a minister.

“We are looking forward, and delighted to support our fantastic candidate in Mid Beds, Festus Akinbusoye, who is the local candidate, the only local candidate in this election; also the local police and crime commissioner.

“He’s got a fantastic track record of already standing up for local people, and I hope he can continue to do that as a new member of Parliament.”

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